Our Products
Carbon Credit Impact
Hemp fiber is widely used in the textile and paper & pulp industry, due to its long and robust fibers as compared to cotton, but being a renewable source material, its application has been increasing in many diverse industries such as construction, animal bedding, furniture, agriculture, and automobile. Additionally, its usage to obtain biofuels and bioplastic has been expected to increase its demand in the coming years.
I-Hemp Katalyst will produce the following industrial hemp products; hurd, bast fiber, green microfiber and seed. These products have a wide variety of uses and are utilized by nearly every type of industry from construction to textiles, automotive production, fuel, health supplements, bioplastics, takeout containers and many, many more. Utilizing the latest production techniques, we will produce the highest quality industrial hemp fiber products.
Hurd
Industrial hemp hurd is a low-value byproduct of hemp processing that is primarily used for animal bedding and hemp-lime construction applications. However, there is potential to valorize the utilization of hurds for higher-value applications such as tissue paper, cellulosic plastic composites, and building materials like fiberboard. This could create greater economic opportunities for rural communities. Hemp hurd has unique properties that make it a more functional material compared to other alternatives. It has high absorption capacity, can absorb up to four times its own weight and prevent moisture from escaping. It is also naturally resistant to mold, bacteria, mildew, and pests, making it more resilient and hygienic. Additionally, hemp hurd has a porous structure that gives it good insulation properties. When milled into a fine powder (20-30 microns), hemp hurd can be used in a variety of applications such as environmental remediation, bioplastics, biofuels, industrial cleaning, and as a loss circulation material. Overall, industrial hemp hurd represents a valuable byproduct that can be utilized for a range of high-value applications beyond its traditional uses, providing economic and environmental benefits.
Bast Fiber
Industrial hemp bast fibers are known for their strength, durability, and length, with fiber bundles that can reach 1-5 meters. These properties have long made hemp bast fibers valuable for a variety of industrial applications, including textiles, paper, composites, caulking, and brake and clutch linings. The bast fibers are the longer, higher quality fibers that are preferred for these applications, in contrast to the shorter, woody hurd fibers which are considered a lower-value byproduct. Life cycle assessments have shown that hemp bast fibers perform better than glass fibers in terms of environmental impact and resource usage. The increased global demand for eco-friendly natural products has also increased the market share for textiles, fabrics, and clothing made from hemp bast fiber. In addition to textiles, hemp bast fibers can also be used to make biodegradable mulch, horticultural planting materials, pressed fiber products, paper and pulp products, building-construction materials, and insulation materials. Overall, the versatility and favorable properties of hemp bast fibers make them a valuable industrial resource with many potential applications.
Micro Hurd
When milled down to 20-30 microns, hemp hurd becomes hemp hurd powder. This fine particle size allows the unique properties of hemp hurd to be expanded to additional uses beyond its traditional applications. Some of the potential uses for hemp hurd powder include environmental remediation such as cleaning up oil spills, as a feedstock for bioplastics and biofuels, in industrial cleaning applications, and as a loss circulation material. The small particle size and high absorption capacity of hemp hurd powder make it a more functional and effective material compared to alternatives for these applications. Hemp hurd powder can absorb up to four times its own weight and prevent moisture from escaping, while also being naturally resistant to mold, bacteria, mildew, and pests.
Overall, the valorization of hemp hurd through processing it into a fine powder opens up new high-value market opportunities for this industrial hemp byproduct beyond its traditional uses in animal bedding and construction.